photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Douglas County commissioners meet on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.

Douglas County commissioners adopted a budget for a program providing peer support services on Wednesday.

Launched in 2019, the Peer Fellows program employs people with lived experience of mental health challenges, substance use disorders and homelessness to help others navigate similar experiences.

The county’s budgeted costs in the proposed 2027 budget totals $231,000, as the Journal-World reported. It includes funding for 14 peer fellow positions across multiple agencies, totaling 9.4 full-time equivalent positions.

The budget was included on the county commissioners’ consent agenda, where all items are typically approved in one motion.

Over the years, the program has expanded into multiple community organizations, such as the City of Lawrence’s Homeless Response Team, Just Food’s Cruising Cupboard, family support services, the Treatment & Recovery Center, Bert Nash’s Mobile Response Team and specialty courts.

The program is also looking to develop a “club house” model by 2028 to support community members living with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders and offer non-clinical opportunities, as the Journal-World reported. Douglas County is calling their proposed clubhouse Anchor Pointe.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, COMMISSIONERS:

• Approved a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to maintain and upgrade its law enforcement cameras, recording systems, software, cloud storage and TASER devices. The contract runs from January 2027 through December 2031, with annual payments of $321,493 for a total cost of $1.61 million.